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Valentine's Day countdown: Baritone Thomas Allen's favorite love song

February 13, 2011 | 11:00
am

From now through Valentine's Day we're sharing the favorite love song from eight musicians who are about to perform in Los Angeles. Today we hear from opera singer Thomas Allen, who selects “I Heard You Singing,” music by Eric Coates and words by Royden Barrie.

"The poem comes out of that period after the First World War when there was tremendous nostalgia for those who were lost. The song was inspired by the poet watching his wife in the garden. It’s a very simple song, but it’s full of all sorts of poignant ideas, and I like singing it very much."

The baritone is featured in Los Angeles Opera’s “Il Turco in Italia” Feb.19 through March 13 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.